Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"Raiders Seized the County Records" headlined the Nov. 28, 1963, Valley Falls Vindicator reporting a story from the Ozawkie Coyote News dated Feb. 1, 1940.
"At one time, Ozawkie was the Jefferson County seat, but lost that right as the result of an election in 1858. Early in 1858, the Legislature passed a bill allowing Jefferson County to vote for a relocation of the county seat. The election was held a short time afterward and though there is no public record of the results, A.G. Patrick has preserved the figures. There were five places voted for and the election results as follows: Oskaloosa, 177 votes, Grasshopper Falls, 173 votes, Ozawkie, 94 votes, Hickory Point, 50 votes, and Fairchild, 50 votes.
"Early in 1859 the Legislature passed a law requiring that the point selected as the county seat should have a majority of votes over all others and should a choice not then be made, another election should be held 30 days after, between the two places receiving the largest number of votes at the first election. The election of 1858 resulted in no majority so another election was held soon after between Grasshopper Falls and Oskaloosa. Oskaloosa received the majority of all votes cast, therefore was named the county seat.
"However, legal rights at that time often had to be carried out by force of arms. Walter N. Allen, first county attorney from Ozawkie, and Rube Meyers, working under the instructions of Allen, were responsible for the stealing of the records from the little log cabin, which stood on the public square two blocks west of the schoolhouse and was being used temporarily as the courthouse. One night Rube Meyers came to Ozawkie loaded with books and records in his government wagon drawn by four yoke of oxen and drove back to Oskaloosa. Since that time, Oskaloosa has been the county seat."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2.
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